Hatch-cover.



H. S. MOORE.

HATCH COVER.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 15. I918. 129551., Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

X 1? N "'h SP5 vii/ p deg/3 JrcoerzZor H. S. MOORE.

HATCH COVER.

APPUCATION FILED JULY 15.1918.

Patented Feb. 25, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEE[ 2.

1,295,5fiL

5: 2:: S. MOlJBE, 0F ALGONAC, MICHIGAN.

'; I TOE-COVER.

Specification of letters Patent. Patented Feb: 25, 1919.

Application filed July 15, 1918. Serial No. 244,856.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HARRY S; Moore, a citizen of the United States,residing in Algonac, in the county of St. Clair and State of Michigan,have invented new and useful Improvements in Hatch-Covers, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to a covering for the hatchways of ships and moreparticularly a covering for this purpose which comprises in its generalorganization a plurality of cover-plates which are adapted to be spreadover the coaming while in their operative position for closing thehatchway or the same may be stacked in piles on the deck at the side ofthe hatchway for un: covering the latter.

The object of this invention is to provide a hatch cover of this generalcharacter which can be readily manipulated for opening and closing thehatchway, which is comparatively low in cost, which forms a perfectlywatertight covering for the hatchway, which is not liable to bedisplaced when subjected to hard usage during storms, and which containsno parts which are liable to be injured or damaged.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my improved hatch cover appliedto the 00aming arranged on the deck of a ship around a hatchway, one ofthe channel-shaped fastening-bars being omitted and some of the partsshown in section for the purpose of more clearly illustrating theinvention. Flg. 2 is a vertical longitudinalsection, on an enlargedscale, of a hatchway showlng part of the same covered and another partuncovered in accordance with my invention. Flg. 3 is a vertical crosssection of the hatchway and the cover, this section being takencrosswise of the central portion of the same. Fig. i is a perspectiveview of one of the 1n ner cover plates forming part of my invention.Fig. 5 is a similar view of one of the channel-shaped fastening bars.Fig. 6 1s a sumlar view of one of the clamps for securing the coverplates and fastening bars to the coaming.

Similar characters of reference refer to like parts throughout theseveral views.

1 represents the deck of a ship, 2 the hatchway therein, 3, 3 the sidewalls of the coamlng or curb which project upwardly along oppositelongitudinal edges of the hatchway. and 5, 5 the upright end walls ofthe coaming which are arranged transor pile over the deck adjacent toone end of (tlhe hatchway when the latter is to be use Each of thesecover-plates is adapted to rest at its opposite narrow or end edges onthe upper inclined faces 4, formed on onehalf of each of thelongitudinal walls of the coaming. At its inner long edge each of theseplates is provided with a downwardlyprojecting guide flange 10 whichoperates to stiffen this plate and also form a sto or guide whichengages with the inner si e of.

the longitudinal walls of the coaming and thereby cause this plate to beguided lcngtlb wise of the coaming but held against transverse movementthereon. At its inner 1ongitudinal edge each of the cover plates is alsoprovided with an upwardly projecting coupling flange 11 which isinclined so that it leans outwardly from the central part of thehatchway toward the outer end thereof. The outermost plate 9 of each setof cover plates is provided at its outer longitudinal edge with adownwardly-projecting L- shaped flange 13 which has 1ts concave sideturned inwardly and forming together with the adjacent part of thisplate a longitudinal channel or hook. This hook is adapted to engageitslower flange against the underside of a horizontal bead 6 formed on theouter side of the adjacent transverse wall of the coaming when thisplate is in its operative or closed position over the respectiveend-portion of the hatchway. In order to form a water-tight jointbetween this hook-shaped flange 13 and the respective transverse bead 6,a packing M consisting preferably of a strip of rubber or similarmaterial is arranged on the bottom of the concave side of a couplinghook 13 which packing engages the outer vertical face of the transversebead 6 and thereby efl'ectually prevents the entrance of water from theoutside into the hatchwa at this joint. At its outer longitudinal e geeach of the inner cover plates is provided with a downwardlyprojectinginchned coupling flange 12 which slopes inwardly and practically forms ahook which is adapted to engage with the outer side of the upper flange11 on the inner longitudinal e ge of the next outer cover plate when theseveral platw of a set are spread into their operative position overone-half of the hatchway and its coaming, as shown in Fig. 1 and the riht hand part of Fig. 2. When both sets 0 cover-plates are unfolded anddrawn inwardly over the hatchway into their operative position the sameare held against spreading by a coupling ooverplate 15 which extendsover the ace between the opposing inner edges of t e innermost coverplates 8 of both sets and is provided at its opposite longitudinal edgeswith downwardly converging coupling flanges 16 which engage with theouter sides of t e upwardly diverging flanges 11 at the innerlongitudinal edges of the innermost cover plates 8 of both sets, asshown in Fig. 1. T 's connection between the coupling plate and theinnermost cover plates 8 is effected by slidiu the coupling platelengthwise relative to t e innermostcoverplates, and the disconnectionbetween the same is effected by a reverse movement of the coupling platerelatively to the respective cover plates. When thus assembled-thecoupling plate forms a reliable connection between the two sets of coverplates and also holds the outer coupllng flanges 12 of the inner coverplates firmly m engagement with the inner colphng flange 11 o the nextouter plate an also retains the coupling hooks 13 of the outermostplates firmly in engagement with the transverse beads 6 of the coamingso as to eflectually prevent the passage of water through the severaljoints between these plates.

On the outer sides of the longitudinal walls 3, 3 of the coamin the sameare provided adjacent to them upper edges with inclined outwardlyprojecting longitudlnal coupl' heads 7, 7 which are preferably flush ont eir outer vertical sides with the narrow end edges of the severalcoverplates and the coupling plate which extend over the hatchway. Forthe purpose of producmg a water-tight joint between the and edges ofthese plates and the coaming, two

channel-shaped fastening bars are provided each of which conformsgenerally to the contour of the upper edge of the longitufinall walls ofthe coaming and is providw meager with upper and lower horizontalflanges'21,

22 and a vertical web 23 connecting the outer edges of these flanges. Inits operative positlon each of these fastening bars has its concave sidefacing inwardly and en ages its upper flange 21 with the upper sidis ofthe several plates 8, 9, 15 at one end thereof while its lower flange 22engages with the underside of the longitudinal bead 7 on the respectivelongitudinal wall of the coaming, and its web 23 is arranged o positethe vertical face of this head and t e adjacent end edges of the severalplates. In order to produce a water tight joint between each of thesefastening bars and the plates and coaming, a packing 25 of rubber orsimilar material is arranged at the bottom of the channel in this bar sothat the same engages with the outer vertical face of the respectivelongitudinal bead 7 on the coamin and the outer narrow edges of theseveral ates, as shown in Fig. 3, thereby positively excluding waterfrom the hatchway at these joints.

Various means may be employed for holding the fastening bars in placerelatively to the plates and coaming, those shown in the drawings beingpreferred on account of their simplicity of construction and ease ofoperation, and as there shown these fastening means comprise a pluralityof clamps each of which consists of a horizontal bar a 17 extending overone of the plates and the fastening bars, a downwardly projecting hook18 arranged at one end of the clamping bar and engaging underneath alocking rib 24 arranged lengthwise on the outer side of the respectivefastening bar, and a clamping screw 20 mounted in a threaded opening ona depending lug 19 arranged at the opposite end of the clamping bar andengaging with the adjacent fastening bar underneath the longitudinal rib24 on the outer side thereof, as best shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 6. In thedrawings, three of such clamps are employed, one at the center of thecoverin and two adjacent to opposite ends thereo but this number may bevaried to suit the length of the hatchway.

When a batch is thus covered by my improved covering, a perfectlywater-tight closure for the same is provided which excludes the entranceof water into the hold of the ship without the use of tarpaulin or anyother flexible covering which is liable to wear rapidly by repeated useand therefore requires frequent renewal.

Means are provided for conveniently stacking each set of cover plates atone end of the hatchWa which means are so constructed that t ey can beunfolded relatively to the coaming or stacking one'set of plates thereonand also folded relatively to the coaming so that this plate support isout of the way and will not obstruct the Mid gangway on the deck whenthe hatchway is covered and the support is not required. In itspreferred form each of these plate-supports comprises two guidewaysarranged on opposite sides of the end portions of the longitudinalcoaming walls, each guideway consisting preferably of two loops 26, alongitudinal supporting-bar 27 slidable horizontally in one pair ofthese guide loops parallel with the adjacent coaming wall 3 and asupporting foot 28 arranged at the outer end of this supporting bar andadapted vto rest upon the top of the deck at a distance from thehatchway. When these plate-supports are not required the rods thereofare pushed inwardly until the feet thereof are in line with the endwalls of the coaming, as shown in Fig. 1, thereby clearing the gangway.When these supports are needed each supporting rod is drawn outwardlyaway from the coaming so that 1 its foot rests upon the deck at adistance from the hatchway and while in this position a pair of thesesupporting rods will permit a set of the cover plates to be stackedthereon, as shown at the left hand side of Fig. 2, where they areconveniently accessible when it is desired to replacethem over thehatchway.

For convenience in shifting the cover plates, a shifting tackle isprovided which preferably comprises a line 29 which is provided at oneend with a loop 30 adapted to engage with shifting pins 31 on the upperside of the innermost cover plates while its outer end is adapted to beconnected with .a hauling device and its intermediate part passes arounda sheave or pulley 32 mounted on a post or standard 33 rising from thedeck, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Owing to the strength and durability of this hatch cover, the same doesnot require frequent renewal, thereby efiecting a considerable economyin the cost of maintenance as compared with hatch covers which utilizetarpaulin or similar flexible material. Furthermore, this covering canbe easily removed from the hatch way 'for loading or unloading the shipand when in its normal or operative position the same renders thehatchway' perfectly water tight so as to preserve the cargo and increasethe safety of the ship.

and a lower flange engaging-with the underside of said bead.

2. A hatch cover comprising a plurality of cover plates adapted tobespread over the coaming of the hatch, a bead arranged on the outer sideof said coaming, and a channel shaped fastening bar which is arrangedalong said plates and bead and has an upper flange engaging with the topof said plates and a lower flange engaging with the undersideof saidbead, and provided in the bottom of its channel with a packing adaptedto engage with the edges of said plates and the outer side of said'bead.

3. A hatch cover comprising a plurality of'cover plates adaptedl'tojabespread over the coaming of the hatch, a bead arranged on theouter side of said coaming, and a channel shaped fastening bar which isarranged along said plates and flange and has an upper flange engaging{with the top of said plates and .a lower flange on aging with theunderside of saidhead an provided on the outer side oftit's web with astiffening rib. I

4. A hatch cover comprising a plurality of cover plates adapted to be{spread over the walls of the coamingarranged on opposite sides of ahatchway, beads arranged lengthwise on the outer sides of, said coamingwalls, channel shaped fastening bars each having upper and lower flangesengaging respectlvely with the upper side of said plates and theunderside of the" bead of the adjacent coaming, a clamping bar arrangedtransversely above said plates and fastening bars and provided at itsopposite ends with means for engaging said fastening bars.

5. A hatch cover comprising a plurality of cover plates adapted to bespread over the walls of the coaming arranged on opposite sides of ahatchway, beads arranged lengthwise on the outer sides of'said coamingwalls, channel shaped fastening 'lbars' each having upper and lowerflangesengagin respectivly with the upper side of said p ates and theunderside of the bead of. the adjacent coaming, and each provided on itsouter side with a longitudinal rib, and a clamping device comprising aclampingbar extending transversely over said plates and fastening bars,a hook arranged on one end of said clamping bar and engaging underneaththe ribs of one of said fastening bars, a ing arranged on theoppositeend of said'clamping bar, and a clamping screw mounted on saidlug and engaging underneath the rib of the ot er fastening bar.

6. Al hatch cover comprising two sets of cover plates which are adaptedto be spread over the coaming walls on opposite sides of the center ofthe hatchway, theinnermost plate of both sets being provided withupwardly projecting coupling flanges which diverge upwardly, and acoupling plate extending over the space between the opposing inner edgesof said innermost cover plates and provided at its opposite edges withdownwardly converging coupling flanges meaeei which engage with theouter side of said uparranged on the outer sides of said 00amwardlydiverging flanges ing walls, and supporting bars slidable 10 7. A hatchcover comprising a plurality lengthwise in said guides and provided atof cover plates adapted to be spread over their outer ends withdepending feet adapt- 5 the coaming walls on opposite sides vof the edto rest on the deck of the ship adjacent 'hatchway or to be stacked onone side of said to the hatchway.

hatchway, and means for supporting the cover plates when stackedcomprising guides 5 S. MOORE.

